Darren Meyer, Project Manager for MSI Design.

The vision for the new-and-improved downtown riverfront didn’t occur overnight. A team of talented planners and designers created the beautiful renderings of what we can expect in 2011 – and Darren Meyer has yet to put the pencil down.

Meyer is a project manager for MSI Design, the company hired by Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) to design the new Scioto Mile. In collaboration with MSI Design project principals and stakeholders, Meyer sets the design direction for the project including the development of initial ideas and design details. In addition, he collaborates with the public, stakeholders, the ownership team, the construction team, sub-consultants, and vendors to keep the project moving forward to a timely and successful completion.

The initial design phase of the Scioto Mile project is underway, which includes the narrowing of Civic Center Drive from four lanes in one direction to a pedestrian-friendly, two-way city street. Upcoming phases will include restoring the historic masonry balustrade and floodwall that form the river’s edge, followed by construction of all the beautification features of the project, such as the café, band shell, park, promenade, and fountains. Renovations are scheduled to be completed in 2011, in time for the city’s bicentennial.

“The process of design is much larger than sitting at a desk preparing illustrations or construction drawings,” said Meyer. “Large public projects have many moving parts and require the designer to wear many different hats. These moving parts and different hats are the source of nearly all of the stress during the project, and all of the satisfaction afterward. The design process involves great faith on the part of the project participants, navigating years of design and construction to move from a project on paper to a park that everyone can enjoy. Strong ideas, clearly communicated, provide the thread that holds the project together.”

According to Meyer, his day-to-day activities focus on being the point person for the work of 18 design and engineering consultants on the project. It also includes conveying these design ideas to the project owners and public, and translating these design ideas into documents that the construction team can bid and build.

“MSI has brought creativity, experience and progressive planning to this project,” said Edward Mendelson, director of construction services, CDDC. “Darren exemplifies MSI’s hard work and has shown nothing but the utmost commitment to seeing the project through to completion.”

Meyer graduated from Ball State University with a degree in landscape architecture. A resident of Columbus and member of the MSI Design team since 1999, he has worked on many projects, including the design of public spaces for the Battelle Memorial Institute, the City of Akron and the Columbus College of Art & Design. Meyer likes to spend time with his wife and son, and also enjoys traveling. That is when he can get away from the design table.

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